Reel



June 5, 1928. 4 1,672,732

A. W. RAY

REEL

Filed Sept. 21, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR June 5, 1928.

A. W. RAY

REEL

Filed Sept. 21, 1925 2 ShetsShe'et 2 Patented June 5, 1928,

ARTHUR w. BAY, OF CLEVELAND, onro,

ASSIGNOR 'IO UNITED ENGINEERING &

FOUNDRY COMPANY, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A. CORPORATION OF PENN- SYIN'ANIA.

Application filed September 21, 1923. Serial lie.- 684,131.

The present invention relates broadly to reels, and more particularly to reels of a character adaptable for use in steel or wire mills for coiling rod, strip or wire, herelnafter referred to as stock, although the utility of the invention is not limited in thls respect. I

At the present time it is qulte customary to reel lengths of material either while being positively delivered to the reeling rme'cha nlsm, such material being hereinafter designatedas moving material, or to coil the same from supports, carriers'or reels, such material being referred to as stationary material. When coiling either moving or stationary material, it is desirable to take up the'slack as quickly as possible and thereafter coil at a lower speed, If a manually operable decelerating control is provlded it has been found that frequently such control is operated so late that the material is placed under a sudden tension and the inertia of the reel parts is such that the material is snapped.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a reel the speed of operation of which is automatically controlled b the material being coiled, such material pre erably being effective for varying the speed of the prime mover which drives the reel.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown for purposes of illustration a preferred embodiment of the present invention,

it being understood that the drawings do not define the limits of my invention as changes may obviously be .made in the construction and operation disclosed without-departing from the spirit of my invention or scope of my broader claims.

In the drawin Figure 1 is a top plan view of one-form of reel embodying the, present invention.

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view on the line 2-2 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of thearrows.

Figure 3 is an end elevation of the construction illustrated in Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is a detail sectional view'on thev line H of Figure 1.

In carrylng out the present invention, in

accordance with the preferred embodiment trolled by thereof, there may be provided a suitable base 2 adapted to support a prime mover 3 such as an electric motor, by means of which the various parts of the reel may be operated. The prime mover may be operatively connected through suitable gearing 4 with a shaft 5 journaled in hearings on the base 2 and extending longitudinally thereof substantially parallel to the motor shaft. Eilhe 0 shaft 5 in turn carries a pinion 6 mes ing with a gear 7 on an upper shaft 8 journaled in a frame 9 mounted to pivot about the shaft 5.

The movable frame 9 has a projecting 65 shelf 10 through which pass guide-rods 11 having pivotal mountings 12 at their lower ends with the base 2. Each of theserods is provided with a lower compression spring 13 bearing at its lower end against a collar 14 and atits upper end against a head 15 having a hemispherical upper bearing surface in the shelf 10. These springs are of such scale as to normally sustaln the weight of the movable frame and hold it in predetermined position. Carried by the upper ends of the rods 11 are compression springs 16 having a similar bearing engagement with the upper side of the self 10 and adapted to have the compression thereon varied byv suitable adjusting means 17 These springs tend to restrict the pivotal movement of the frame 9 about the shaft 5 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Figures 2 and 3. In order to cushion and partially check the return movement of the frame 9, there may be provided one or more dash pots 18 having pistons 19 pivotally connected by piston 'rods 20 to the shelf 10. Each of the dash pots may have an air connection 21 provided with a controllable air opening 22 adapted to be regulated by the valve 23, and with a check valve 24 tending to restrict downward movement of the piston in the cylinder but permitting relatively unrestricted ,upward movement thereof within the capacity of theopening 22.

If desired, the movement of the frame 9 in both directions may be positively conan oil cylinder 25 having a bypass connection 26 controlled by a needle in a .clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 2, and the stock S, as represented by chain lines moves in the direction of the arrow A. During the initial operation of the reel for the purpose of taking up slack,

the frame 9 will occupy substantially the position shown in Figure 2. As the tension on the stock increases, however, the entire frame 9 will be swungin a counterclockwise direction. Advantage is taken of 7 this movement for controlling the speed of rotation of the reel to automatically reduce its speed in accordance with the tension. This may be accomplished by connecting a portion of the frame 9 to a link 29 which is in turn operatively connected to the arm 30 of a suitable rheostat or controller 31 for the prime mover. The construction of the controller 31 will be such that as the arm 30 is swung in a counter-clockwise direction the speed of the motor will be decrease while as it is swung in the opposite direction the speed of the motor is automatically increased. In this manner the motor speed is decelerated as soon as the slack in the stock is taken up and the possibility of snapping the stock is thereby obviated. I

The advantages of the present invention arise from the provision of a reel adapted to automatically be operated at a plurality of difl'erent speeds determined by the ten sion of the material being reeled, such tension preferably being effective for changing the speed of the driving motor.

I claim:

1. In a material handling a paratus, a rotatable member adapted to e ect longitudinal movement of the material being handled, means for driving said member, supporting meansfor said member permitting lateral movement thereof under the tension of the material, and means effective upon lateral 'movement of said member for changing the speed of the driving means. i

2. In a material handling apparatus, a rotatable member adapted to effect longitudinal movement .of the material being handled, means for positively driving said member, supporting means for said member permitting lateral movement thereof under the tension of the material, and means effective upon lateral movement of said member for changing the speed of the driving means.

3. In a material handling apparatus, a reel, means for rotating the same, means supporting the reel for bodily movement under the tension of the material being coiled, and means operative upon such movement for changing the speed of the driving means. 1 v

4;. In a material handling apparatus, a reel, means for positively rotating said reel,

means supporting said reel for bodily movement under the tension of the material being coiled, and means operative upon such movement for changing the speed of the driving means.

5. In a coiling apparatus, a reel supported for bodily movement during the reeling, driving mechanism forthe reel, means controlled by the movement of the reel for varying the speed of the reel, a variable resisting device for resisting the movement of the reel in .one direction arranged to vary the stress on the resisting device as the reel is moved, and a shock absorber for resisting the return movement of the reel;

6. In a coiling apparatus, a reel supported for bodily movement during the reeling,

driving mechanism for the reel, means controlled by the movement of the reel for varying the speed of the reel, a variable resisting device for resisting the movement of the reel in one direction arranged to increase the stress on the resisting device as the reel is moved in one direction, and a dash-pot for resisting the return movement of the reel.

7 In a material handling apparatus, a reel, a prime mover for rotating the same, supporting means for the reel, said means permitting bodily movement thereof under the, tension of the material being reeled, means operable upon such movement for changing the speed of the prime mover, and means to vary the stress on the supporting means as the reel support is moved.

.8. In a material handling apparatus, a Q

base, a reel frame pivotally mounted on said base, a reel carried on the frame, variable resisting means controlling the pivotal movement of the reel frame for varying the stress on the frame as the frame is moved,

reel, and means operable upon pivotal movement of the reel frame for varying the speed of the prime mover.

9. In a material coihng apparatus,a reel movable toward and from the material being reeled, variable resisting means controlling a prime mover operatively connected to the p p trol means for actuating said control means upon movement of the reel frame, and means to vary the stress on the reel frame during the movement thereof.

11. In a material coiling apparatus, a reel adapted for bodily movement, means for rotating the reel, control means adapted to vary the speed of rotation of the reel, actuating means connected to the control means and movable with bodily movement of the 1 reel for actuating the control means, and a spring abutment for the reel arranged to increase the pressure exerted against the reel as the reel is moved in one direction.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto 15 

